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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: perch · lash · coach · pound · bound · rock · key · root

  1. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  2. This piece is in a major ________________.
  3. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  4. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  5. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  6. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  7. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  8. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  9. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  10. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  11. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  12. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  13. Have you met the new head ________________?
  14. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  15. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  16. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  17. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  18. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  19. That was ________________ to happen.
  20. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  21. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  22. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  23. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  24. Hard work is the ________________ to success.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. lash — an eyelash
  2. key — in music
  3. rock — a stone
  4. root — of a plant
  5. pound — for dogs
  6. coach — pulled by horses
  7. bound — obliged
  8. pound — to hit hard
  9. root — of a word
  10. perch — for a bird
  11. bound — tied together
  12. lash — a whip stroke
  13. coach — a trainer
  14. lash — to lash out
  15. rock — to move gently
  16. key — for a lock
  17. perch — for a bird
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. bound — certain
  20. rock — music
  21. root — the cause
  22. perch — the fish
  23. pound — a weight
  24. key — the most important part

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com